Writing instrument



May 4, 1948.

A. F. ocoNNoR 2,440,829

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed April 9, 1946 [WWP/999952917 r IN V EN TORI Patented May 4f, 1948 @Nitro Nstares nur mais i trice WRITING IN STRUMEN' Arthur F. OConnor, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 9, 1946, Serial No. 660,737

8 Claims.

improved means for normally urging the writing material in the pen in al direction toward the writing ball, said'means being adapted for manual adjustment as the amount of writing material in the pen decreases whereby a selective pres sure may be maintained behind the writing mate rial in the pen.

Another object is to provide a fountain pen having a barrel portion adapted to hold a larger supply of writing material than pens of the prior art having screws, rods or other mechanism extending through the supply of writing material in the barrel portion, thereby providing animproved pen capable of writing longer between rell periods.

A further object is to provide an improved pen of the type using a pasty writing material having few parts and being economical to manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an axial section through a pen embodying the invention. A

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section along line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section along line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section along line liof Figure 3.

Figure is a fragmentary axial section, through the forward end portion of the main body portion of the pen shown in Figure l, when the pen is in Vthe rear end portion of a variation or alternate of the main body portion of the pen shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 9 is an end view of the alternate struc-v ture of Figure 8.

(Cl. `12th-42.4)

2 Throughout this specification the words forward end and rear end are intended to mean the writing end and the opposite end of the pen,

respectively. The forward end of any of the* component parts of the pen is intended to mean the end of such part or parts facing the writing end of the assembled pen;

Referring to the form ofmy invention. shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the main body portion of the pen may comprise a cylindrical tube ,luf formed of metal, plastic material or the` like. A.

tip member l2 may be removably secured to the' forward end of the tube. A removable cap i4 may be secured to the rear end of the tube. A removable cap it may be secured to the forward end of the tube in enclosing relation with the tip member I2. The rear end portion of the tube may be interiorly threaded with a preferably` square-cut thread i8. An annular `groove 2i! may be provided in the bore of the tube intermediate its opposed ends. The forward end of the tube may have an inner threaded portion 22 and an outer threaded portion 2d. An annular groove 25 may' be' formed in the bore of the tube adjacent bore of the tube l0 intermediate the spaced an# nular grooves 2t and 25S.` Viewing Fig. 1, the piston 3U is shown in the approximate position it may assume when the pen is fully charged with' writing material, the space intermediate the forward surface of the piston 30 and the groove 25 providing an elongated cavity'32 adapted to hold the bulk of said writing material. A cylindrical sleeve 34 may be telescopingly disposed within the bore of. the tube it adjacent the rear end thereof provided with an open forward end and an opposed end formed with an axially disposed projecting end portion 36 of preferably reduced diameter. The open end of the sleeve maybe provided" with laterally and outwardly extending opposed lugs 33 adapted to register with and inter-lock with the annular groove 2S whereby to'.

restrict the telescoping movement of the sleeve longitudinally of the bore of the tube it;

The opposed longitudinal walls of the sleeve 3ft may be formed with longitudinally extending slotsl Ml terminating short of the rear end of the sleeve and extending through the edge of the forward end thereof, adapted to permit the lugs 3S tobe sprung into the groove Zi) when the sleeve is moved into operative position. While I prefer to limit the movement of the sleeve 34- lengthwise operating groove 28,'I contemplate the use of a sleeve having frictional engagement with the inner walls of the tube I8 for this purpose. Opposed longitudinal walls of the sleeve 34 may be formed with opposed longitudinally extending closed-ended slots 42 disposed in a plane at right angle to the the plane of the aligned slots 48. A piston-like block 44 may be disposed within the sleeve 34 adapted for longitudinal movement therein formed with a bore 48 extending laterally through the block. A pair of preferably round rods 48 may be slidingly disposed within the bore 46 and may be separated by a coil spring 58 adapted to normally urge the rods 48 in a direction away from each other. The outer ends of the rods 48 may extend throughthe slots 42 adapted to be urged by the spring 58 into the thread I8 of the tube I8. A coil spring 52 or other suitable resilient member may be disposed longitudinally within the sleeve 34 with one end portion engaging the block 44 and the 'other'end engaging the piston 38. The end wall of the prod jecting end portion 86 may be provided with an -orice 54 for purposes hereinafter described.

The tip member I 2 may comprise an elongated member provided with a rear threaded portion 56 adapted to screw into the threaded portion 22 of the tube I and may be provided with an annular shoulder portion 58 adapted to engage the forward end of the tube I0 when the tip member is screwed into operative position.

The outer surface of the tip member i2 may taper forwardly and inwardly from the outer periphery of the shoulder portion 58 terminating in a reduced sized rounded forward end. 'The tip member I2 may be formed with an axial bore 68 tapering forwardly and inwardly and converging with the tapered outer surface thereof to form an extreme forward axial aperture dened by a thin lperipheral edge 62, said edge 62 being turned inwardly to dene a substantially bell-like cavity 64 therebeneath. The lower extremity of the cavity 64 may be dened by a laterally disposed Wall 66 within the bore 68 and preferably integrally formed with the walls thereof. The wall 66 may be provided with an axial aperture 68 and a plurality of apertures 18 intermediate the aperture 68 and the walls of the bore 68. A ball 'I2 of larger diameter than the diameter of the aperture formed by the inwardly turned edge 62 may be disposed within the cavity 64 in rotatable relation therewith. An elongated rod 74 may be axially disposed within the bore 68 with its forward end portion extending through the aperture 68 and normally engaging the ball 'I2 and urging said ball into closing engagement with the aperture formed by the inwardly turned edge 62; the other end portion of the rod 'I4 extending through an axial aperture 'I6 in the bridge member 28. The rod 'I4 may be provided with an anixed washer 'I8 in spaced relation with the bridge member V28. A cylindrical sleeve 88 of rubber or other resilient material may be disposed on the rod 'I4 intermediate the washer 'I8 and the bridge member 28 adapted to normally urge the washer I 'I8 and the associated rod 'I4 in a direction toward the ball l2. It will be obvious that a coil spring may be substituted for the resilient sleeve 88.

In Figure 5, I show the upper end portion of the tube I0 with tip portion I2 and cap I6 removed therefrom, and the piston 38 in the approximate position it will assume when the penis ready to refill with writing material.

i In Figure 6 isshown a cartridge 82` adapted to hold sufficient writing material to refill the pen; the cartridge of Fig 6 being shown, with relation to the upper end of the tube of Fig. 5, in the approximate position it may assume when ready for attachment to the tube I0, for relling the latter.

The cartridge 82 may comprise an elongated cylinder of metal, plastic or other suitable material, closed atY one end by a wall portion 84 and open at its opposite end. A piston 85 may be dis-I posed n the bore of the cartridge adjacent the wall portion 84 when the cartridge is filled with writing material and the wall portion 84 may be formed with a centrally located indented portion 88 preferably very thin in section. The open end Aof the cartridge may be fitted with a circular closure 90 of disc-like configuration and may be threaded around its periphery and may be provided with a centrally located slot 82 extending across one outer surface of the closure S8 adapted to provide means for screwing the closure into and out of the cartridge, as by means of a tool similar to a screw-driver. The open end of the cartridge may be threaded internally with threads 9| adapted to register with the peripheral threading on the closure 98 and may be threaded externally with threads 83 to match the threaded portion 22 of the tube I0. the outer surface of the closure 98 may be inwardly spaced from the end of the cartridge 82, when v the closure 98 is in iinal closing position, and I propose to apply a suitable sealing compoundbetween the closure and the adjacent end of the cartridge adapted to provide an air seal and being of material which may be readily removed when the closure 98 is to be removed.

The space within the cartridge intermediate the piston 86 and the closure 88, viewing Figure 6, may be lled with writing material and when the tubev Ill is to be relled the closure Sli)V may be removed, the cartridge screwed into the tube I8 and the indented, preferably frangible,Y portion 88 may be punctured by a small diameter rod (not shown) and the piston 86 forced longitudinally of the cartridge by the last named rod, the piston 85 forcing the writing material ahead of it and forcing the piston 38 of Figure 5 back to its original position as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. As the writing material and the piston 86 are being moved lengthwise into the tube I 0 the orifice 54 is adapted to permit the escape of any air which might otherwise be trapped in the lower portion of the tube I8.

While the tube I0, tip portion I2 and the cap I6 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, vulcanized rubber, plastics, etc., I prefer that the tube be made of such material as one of the methyl methacrylates, such as Lucite whereby the action of the component parts within the tube may be seen through the tube and whereby the supply of writing material in thev pen may be determined readily. The cap I4 may be frictionally secured to the tube I8, as shown, or may be threaded thereto if desired. The end portion 36 of the sleeve 34 may be used to rotate the sleeve in the tube, for desired adjustment of the spring tension against the piston 38 and may be knurled lengthwise whereby to provide suitable nger grip.

If desired the rod 'I4 may be formed with an axial bore extending longitudinally therethrough adapted to provide communication, through the bore, between the writing material-holding cavity 32 and the ball. The walls of the last named bore may be perforate adapted to permitv the Asshown in Fig. 6,v

writing material to` enter the. bore intermediate its.` opposed ends.

The assembled pen shown in Figure. 1 illus tated it will cause the block tomove in the desired i direction toward or away from the writing material in the cavity 32, through the action of the rods 48- and their cooperative-sliding relation with the thread I8 of the tube lll. I propose that the walls of the sleeve 34 be in slight frictional engagement with the inner walls of the tube ill adapted to maintain the sleeve against undesired rotation thereof after the block `lllyhas been moved to selected position. The thread lll-may be of a pitch adapted to receive the opposed outer ends or" the aligned rods d8 (as shown in Figure 1)..

In Figures 8. and 9 of the drawings I have shown a modification in theV rear end'l portion of the pen illustrated in Figure 1. In Figure 8 I have shown the rear end portion of a cylindrical tube |93 which may be identi-cal with the tube lll of Figure 1. A sleeve |il2 may be telescopingly disposed within the rear end portion of the tube |60 and may be the same as the sleeve 34 except that the rear end thereof is modified. The rear end portion of the sleeve |02 may be formed with a lateral wall |64 and an axially disposed outwardly projecting portion |06 of reduced diameter connected by an offset boss portion |08 formed with a preferably hexagonal peripheral wall. The end wall of the projecting portion |66 may be formed with an orice |53. A piston-like block I |2 may be slidably disposed within the sleeve ||l2 provided with a closed-ended bore H4. A rod H6 may be slid-v ably disposed within the bore H4. A coil spring H8 may be disposed within the bore ||4 intermediate the closed end thereof and the adjacent end of the rod H6 adapted to normally urge the rod H5 in a direction away from said closed end of the bore. The outer end portion of the rod H6 may extend through the slot 42 and into cooperative guided relation with the thread IB. A cap may be removably secured to the rear end portion of the tube IBB and may be formed with a transverse end wall |22 having a central aperture |24 of hexagonal configuration. The wal1 |22 may be in a common plane with the boss portion |08 with the periphery of the aperture |24 in registering interlocking relation with the hexagonal periphery of the boss portion |08. The sleeve |22 of Figure 8 may be rotated by rotating the cap |20 on the tube |80 and I pro pose that the fit between the cap |20 and the cooperating portion of the tube |00 be such that the cap |20 will be maintained in selective set positions by frlctional engagement with the tube il!!! adapted to maintain the sleeve |02 in predetermined set position until purposely moved therefrom.

It will beseen that the pen of the present invention has a writing material-holding cavity free from rods, screws and similar members which reduce the capacity of the cavity and which, in the prior art structures, are so complicated that the pen owner is required to send the, pen-back'` tothe factory for` refilling.. The larger` capacity-` of` sliepen of i the present inventionsprovidesaapennwhi'ch willv function as a writing instrument, for longer periods,` between reiiilings; than the pens of.' theprior art.

Itrwill be, obvious: to. those skilled in theart that various. modifications may be made in the illustrated'embodimentiof the invention without departing from. the-scope of my inventionV and it:

rear end portion of the bore being internallythreaded, aitipv member secured to the forward end of said bore, a ball mounted rotatably inn the forward end of the tip member, a duct i in saldi tip member adapted. to provide communi'caa` tionE between theforward end of' said bore and said ball; said duct and' the forward portion ofV said bore being adapted to be normally-filled with a pastyxwriting material; the combination of a piston in said bore, a rotatable sleeve in telescoped relation with. the rear endV portion of said. bore formed` with an ,open forward end; a longltudinalwslotwin the sidewall of' the sleeve,` a longitudinally slidable. block' in said sleeve,` a pin extending outwardly from the periphery of said block through said slot and into cooperative engagement with one of the internal threads in the bore of said body portion whereby upon rotation of the sleeve said pin and associated block will be moved forwardly in said sleeve into forwardly moving relation with said piston whereby said piston will move said writing material toward said ball.

2. The structure of claim l, wherein the rear end portion of the sleeve is provided with a transverse wall formed with a centrally projecting portion of reduced diameter preferably noncircular in cross-section, a cap comprising a tubular portion open at one end and formed at its other end with a transverse wall formed with an aperture non-circular in configuration, said tubular portion being adapted to embrace the outer wall of the main body portion of the pen, said last named transverse wall being disposed transversely of said projecting portion with'its aperture in registering relation therewith, said cap being adapted to be manually rotated upon said body portion whereby to rotate said sleeve and being adapted to maintain its manually set position on the body portion by means of frictional engagement therebetween.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the rear end portion of the sleeve is provided with a transverse wall formed with a projecting portion of reduced diameter polygonal in cross-section, said projecting portion being formed with an axially projecting portion of reduced diameter, a cap comprising a tubular portion open at one end and formed at its other end with a transverse wall formed with an aperture of polygonal configuration therethrough, said tubular portion being adapted to embrace the outer wall of the main body portion of the pen, said last named transverse wall being disposed transversely of said first named projecting portion with its aperture in registering non-rotating relation therewith, said cap being adapted to be manually rotated upon said body portion whereby to rotate said sleeve and being adapted to maintain its manually set position on the body portion through frictional engagement therewith.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed with opposed longitudinal slots in the side walls thereof, said block having a lateral bore extending therethrough, a pair of pins slidably mounted in said lateral bore and separated from each other by a resilient member adapted to normally urge the pins in a direction away from each other, the outer end portions of the opposed pins being adapted to extend through the slots and into cooperative. engagement with the threaded portion of said axial bore.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the rear end portion of the sleeve is formed with an axially disposed longitudinally projecting portion of reduced size adapted to be manually rotated whereby to rotate the sleeve in the body portion of the pen.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the axial bore of the body portion of the pen is formed with an annular groove, the sleeve being formed with a laterally and outwardly projecting portion adapted to interlock with said groove whereby to limit the movement of the sleeve longitudinally of the body portion.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the axial 25 Number bore of the body portion of the pen is formed with an annular groove, the sleeve being formed with a laterally projecting detent adjacent its forward edge adapted to interlock with said groove, a longitudinal slot in the longitudinal wall of said sleeve extending through the forwardy edge thereof adapted to permit said last named forward edge to be sprung inwardly adjacent said detent as the sleeve is being moved into the body portion, said last named edge being adapted to spring outwardly when the sleeve reaches its operative position whereby to move said detent into cooperative relation with said groove.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein a resilient member is disposed intermediate the block and the piston adapted to yieldably urge the piston forwardly as said block is moved forwardly, said resilient member being maintained under selective compression by the rotation of said sleeve and the resulting selective position of said block in said sleeve. Y

ARTHUR F. OCONNOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,128,052 MacNally Aug. 23, 1938 2,399,636 Biro r Dec. 11, 1945 2,406,255 Florman Sept. 24, 1946 

